New Regulations Will Affect Industry on Eastern Seaboard

The Cabinet agreed to revise regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, requiring industries to conduct Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) and Heath Impact Assessments (HIA).

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expected the revision of the regulations to be promulgated in the Royal Gazette.

After the Cabinet’s approval, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti clarified the matter with the operators of 65 Map Ta Phut industrial projects suspended by the court over environmental concerns.

After promulgation in the Royal Gazette, 65 projects will conduct the required assessments as specified in the 2007 Constitution.

Public hearings will be also conducted under the 105-day timeframe before forwarding a report to an independent body to set up by a fourparty committee in charge of resolving the environmental regulations affecting the Map Ta Phut projects.

The minister also said the revised regulations were approved by the fourparty committee and were aimed at screening industrial projects and reducing their impact on the environment.